The snow from two weeks ago has melted, and while more rainstorms are brewing once again, our LightHouse Gala team made their way up to Enchanted Hills Camp on a beautiful sunny day this week. The gala will be held in August, and with just five and a half months left to go, our team of organizers traveled up Mt. Veeder to take in all the sights and sounds of camp, to draw inspiration and creativity for our Enchanted Evening Gala.
Together, the team walked the trails of EHC and toured the grounds. The wet winter months have brought new growth and greenery among the burnt trees and remaining remanence of past wildfires. The camp’s beauty and resilience is evident throughout its entire 311 acres. As construction continues on and ideas for future blueprints are being dreamt of, the foundation for a beautiful, accessible and nurturing oasis of empowerment and independence for blind, low vision, and deafblind campers is being built.
Our team can’t wait to recreate the camp experience for our gala guests at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square Plaza. We cannot wait to share with our community the history of camp, the vision Rose Resnick had when the camp was acquired, and the dreams we aspire to bring to reality. If you would like to be part of this incredible journey, join us for An Enchanted Evening on August 19, 2023. Early-bird discounted tickets are now available on the LightHouse Gala website. You may also contribute to the future of camp by sponsoring the event or by donating auction items. We look forward to sharing a truly enchanting evening together with dinner, dancing, auctions and entertainment, all for the benefit of our beloved Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind.
This August, LightHouse invites you to attend our gala, An Enchanted Evening, to benefit the rebuilding of Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC). Held at the historic and beautiful Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square, our gala will be an elegant evening celebrating the blind community and raising funds for camp by sponsorships and both a silent and live auction.
Enchanted Hills is the heart and soul of LightHouse’s mission to promote the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or visually impaired. Camp is a safe place where blind, low vision, and deafblind campers of all ages can find community in a fun, educational and nurturing blind-positive environment. And, after the devastation from the 2017 Napa wildfires, we have made rebuilding and re-imagining EHC our top priority.
The proceeds raised at the gala will assist in the current and ongoing camp construction projects and future endeavors to enhance our enchanted redwood retreat to become an accessible, blind-positive oasis for generations of blind, low vision, and deafblind campers to come.
Stay tuned for more gala details and updates in the coming weeks! For now, you can learn more about sponsorship tiers, donating auction items, and purchasing tickets to the 2023 LightHouse Gala: An Enchanted Evening by visiting the LightHouse Gala website.
Read additional blog posts about the LightHouse Gala
Last Thursday, the LightHouse gathered hundreds of friends, supporters and community members at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in downtown San Francisco for the LightHouse Gala: A Celebration of Blind Ambition. At the gala, which was LightHouse’s largest-ever, we honored blind pioneers, role models and citizens for their audacity and ambition. It was a celebration, a fundraiser and an invitation for our community to partner and become more deeply engaged with the work of the LightHouse.
LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin speaks at the podium.
Three gala attendees stand, smiling.
Three gala attendees stand, smiling.
Holman Prizewinner Ojok Simon
LightHouse employee Serena Olsen clinks her knife against her wine glass.
A pair of Gala attendees smile stand, smiling with delight.
A pair of Gala attendees smile stand, smiling with delight.
A pair of Gala, including LightHouse Board President Chris Downey, stand smiling.
A trio of Gala attendees, including Kathy Abrahamson, embrace, smiling for the camera.
A pair of Gala attendees sit, smiling.
A duo of Gala attendees stand, smiling.
A trio of Gala attendees, including LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin, stand smiling.
Four Gala attendees stand in the ballroom.
A pair of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A gala attendee holds a young toddler in her arms, smiling.
A pair of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A Gala speaker stands at the podium.
A Gala speaker stands at the podium.
With over 300 people in attendance, it was an evening of community and camaraderie. Emcee Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mount Everest, set the tone for our daring evening. LightHouse student Jorge Ellington and his band started the evening right with live Latin Jazz. We honored seven blind leaders throughout the night, and capped off with presentations from our agency’s Holman Prize for Blind Ambition.
We were proud to present our new LightHouse Awards: to acknowledge longtime leaders from the field of blindness, who have had a great impact on the community. This award honored trailblazers in education, technology and policy. LightHouse Newel Perry Award was presented to Cathy Skivers by Bryan Bashin. The LightHouse Dr. Isabelle Grant Award was presented to George Kerscher for his work to made electronic books accessible. Erin Lauridsen, Director of Access Technology presented the award to Dr. Kerscher. The LightHouse Chris Buckley Award honored Scott LaBarre and Maryanne Diamond for their work advocating for the Marrakesh Treaty to make books accessible to the global blind community without exception. Benentech’s Jim Fruchterman presented the award.
Ceremonial medals were given to the 2017 Holman Prizewinners, who were honored for the completion of their year-long projects which furthered the cause of blindness across six continents in the fields of adventure sports, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange. Holman prizewinner Penny Melville-Brown recounted her perilous, near death car accident and subsequently meeting and marrying the love of her life. Ojok Simon spoke of teaching over 45 blind people the art of beekeeping this year, and brought honey from Uganda to share with all. Ahmet Ustunel imparted his kayaking adventures in Turkey, and the technology he crafted to aid blind kayakers navigate independently.
2017 Holman Prizewinners stand with LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin.
LightHouse Gala emcee Erik Weihenmayer stands with a smile, speaking at the podium.
An auction bidder holds up his sign marked “110” with enthusiasm, in a crowd of cheering people.
A pair of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A pair of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A trio of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A pair of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A trio of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A pair of Gala attendees, including LightHouse Award winner Scott LaBarre stand smiling.
A trio of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A group of five Gala attendees stand smiling.
A large group of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A pair of Gala attendees stand smiling.
A group of six Gala attendees stand, smiling.
Penny Melville-Brown and her partner stand smiling.
A group of four gala attendees, including LightHouse Board Member Josh Miele sit smiling at a dinner table.
A large group of a dozen Gala attendees pose for a photo – one row sitting at the dinner table, with another row standing behind.
Erin Lauridsen stands beside LightHouse Award winner George Kerscher at the podium.
Julie Cabrera, an Enchanted Hills camper who grew up to be a counselor helped us raise funds to rebuild the Wing Creek Chapel and accessible nature trail at Enchanted Hills, which were destroyed in last year’s Wine Country wildfires. The evening supported the life-changing programs of the LightHouse with a portion supporting to Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. The event raised over $180,000. Thank you to our sponsors.
EXPLORATION SPONSORS – Individual
Jennifer and Ken Bunt
Corporate
Walt Disney Company Employee Matching Gift Program
On November 29, 2018, we hosted the first-ever LightHouse Gala at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco.
The full gala tickets included access to a pre-dinner cocktail hour, our Gala dinner and awards, and live auction with fabulous packages.
We can’t wait to have you again in 2020.
An auction bidder holds up his sign marked “110” with enthusiasm, in a crowd of cheering people.
Holman Prizewinner Penny Melville-Brown embraces her partner, smiling.
Holman Prizewinner Ahmet Ustunel stands at the podium to speak, with LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin standing to his right.
Holman Prizewinner Ahmet Ustunel at right and Sarahbeth Maney at left.
A group of Gala attendees clap, smiling, seated at tables.
An auction participant raises his number triumphantly, donning a wide grin, amidst a crowd of cheering Gala attendees.
A seated auction participant raises her numbered sign with a smile, alongside a group of cheering people at her table.
Kim Starr, Bobbi Pompey and Lisamaria Martinez sit at a dinner table during the auction.
A group of nine Gala attendees stand and sit together in a group, all looking relaxed and delighted.
A medium shot of the Julia Morgan Ballroom during the Gala, with full tables of people, and illuminated screens with a graphic that says “LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired”.
A pair of Gala attendees stand smiling.
LightHouse employee Serena Olsen clinks her knife against her wine glass.
November 29, 2018
Julia Morgan Ballroom
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cocktail Attire
For 116 years, LightHouse has served California and supported people with blindness or low vision to live full lives. We are the place where blind people come to learn skills and to gain confidence and independence. At the LightHouse people connect with resources, peers and mentors. Every day we prove that with access to information and training, blind people can live as confident and effective employees, students, and community members.
In addition to awards for outstanding members of our community, innovative organizations and our valued sponsors, the evening also featured the stories of our first three winners of the Holman Prize for Blind Ambition, who will have just completed their year-long Holman adventures.
We look forward to sharing an exceptional night together in celebration again in 2020. The Gala benefits LightHouse for the Blind’s transformational programs including Vision Rehabilitation, Community Services, Employment, Technology, and Accessible Design, as well as the annual Holman Prize for Blind Ambition and Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind in Napa.
2018 CORPORATE SPONSORS
INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS
Bauke Family Foundation
Jennifer and Ken Bunt
Jennison Asuncion
Jerry Kuns
Josh Miele, Liz Ruhland and Fred Ruhland
Lisa Carvalho and David Mager
Richard and Sharon Sacks
Michael Nunez
THANKS TO OUR GALA COMMITTEE
Jennison Asuncion
Bryan Bashin
Jennifer Bunt
Michael Dellar
Gena Harper
Sharon Sacks
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The snow from two weeks ago has melted, and while more rainstorms are brewing once again, our LightHouse Gala team made their way up to Enchanted Hills Camp on a beautiful sunny day this week. The gala will be held in August, and with just five and a half months left to go, our team of organizers traveled up Mt. Veeder to take in all the sights and sounds of camp, to draw inspiration and creativity for our Enchanted Evening Gala.
Our team can’t wait to recreate the camp experience for our gala guests at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square Plaza. We cannot wait to share with our community the history of camp, the vision Rose Resnick had when the camp was acquired, and the dreams we aspire to bring to reality. If you would like to be part of this incredible journey, join us for An Enchanted Evening on August 19, 2023. Early-bird discounted tickets are now available on the LightHouse Gala website. You may also contribute to the future of camp by sponsoring the event or by donating auction items. We look forward to sharing a truly enchanting evening together with dinner, dancing, auctions and entertainment, all for the benefit of our beloved Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind.
